Pioneer

Notes from London (From Our London Correspondent). I THE WILSON POLICY ACITATION. I The agitation in support or Mr. Wilson's con- ception of a League of Nations has ganied an impetus from two demonstrations held in London last week. The first was organised by the wet- come to President Wilson Committee, and was held in the Central Hall, Westniin.,itpi- under the chairmanship of Lord Parmoor. Among the speakers were Miss Maude Royden, Mr. H. N. Brailsford, the Bishop of Oxford, and the Master of the Temple. The meeting was unanimollsly in favour of the resolution. I MISLED BY THE BISHOPS! I An amusing incident at this meeting suggested that the supporters of the war will find the tide rising against them as light is thrown upon the real facts of the European situation. The Bishop of Oxford opened his speech in support of the Wilson policy by insisting that the German people must be made to realise they are a beaten people, not a very happy note to strike if the Bishop desires a permanent peace and a good spirit among the peoples. They must he shown that they have been misled," he said, and a voice from the audience cried And so have we. Another voice added, And by the Bishops!" The interruptions were loudly ap- n1:111000. THE LABOUR MASS MEETINC. I The second demonstration was the great mass meeting organised by the Labour Party and the Trade Union Congress in the Albert Hall. It was an inspiring gathering, addressed by Arthur Henderson, Mrs. Snowden, Mr. Bernard Shaw, Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, and Mr. George Lans- bury. Mr. G. H. Stuart-Bunning, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, presided. Great enthusiasm prevailed throughout the meet- ing and warm receptions were given to all the speakers. Mr. Macdonald's welcome was extra- ordinary. The vast company applauded his ap- pearance at the table literally for minutes, and then broke into a- hearty singing of For he's a jolly good fellow." This was followed by three rousing cheers and further applause. MACDONALD ON THE FROST. Mr. Macdonald said he knew that was because between that evening and the occasion on which the last met there had been a frost! The remark was received with laughter by the gathering, who knew that the frost was but a. temporary happening, and Mr. Macdonald added, But those who imagine that the frost has killed the plant are tremendously mistaken." Mrs. Snowden's speech was in part a passion- ate. appeal for the starving women and children of Germany and a demand for the lifting of the blockade. She challenged the women of England on this question. Mrs. Snowden expressed her fear that the League of Nations, in the absence of keen vigilance on the part of the peoples, would be a League of capitalist Governments which would work to destroy the rising spirit of Socialism and the new economic order which is beginning to appear in Russia and Germany, as a result of the revolutions. I ENGLAND'S TERRIBLE POWER. Mr. Bernard Shaw delivered a characteristic speech, which was well described by the" Man- chester Guardian" as a mixture of humour and statesmanship. It was a keen analysis of the European situation, and, indeed, of the world situation, for he gave to his audience some sug- gestion of the race in naval armaments that is bound to develop between America and England if the League of Nations is not made an accom- plished fact. England had shown, he "aid, that she had a terrible power to bring starvation and ruin to the civilised world, and he asked: What would be your feelings of any other country that had a similar power? George Lansbury's simple, straight speech, held the audience well t-o the end. I THE WORK TO BE DONE. I The agitation must grow in strength until the demand for a genuine League of Peoples be- comes so strong that it will lie impossible for the Governments to resist it. That a great agitation is necessary if the Peace is to be saved from the evil of Imperialism is abundantly clear from the reactionary voting at the election. The people are not instructed upon the issues. They are not ready to embrace those ideals the practical translation of which can alone guarantee justice and permanent peace to the world. I WORKERS" ORDINARY HUMAN BEINGS. I The Women's Party, whose leader, Miss Chris- tabel Pankhurst, was beaten by the Labour can- didate at Smethwick, has now expounded its in- dustrial gospel in a book entitled "Industrial Salvation." "Freedom for Women" was its justification of its militancy in the old days (the Women's Party is composed of the old militants, or some of them, of the Suffrage Movement), but they have no notions of freedom in industry. Christabel is not an exile now. She is a friend of the Great Man. The ideal of Christabel and her friends now is captaincy and discipline, and they tell us: "It is outside wage-earning hours that the worker must look for freedom from re- straint." He is to be a worker during ordin- ary working hours, and an ordinary human being afterwards." It should be noted that the view of the worker held by the Women's Party, as these few curious persons style themselves, is very similar to the Capitalist view—that what- ever the worker may think of himself, lie is no ordinary human being; at least, not until after working hours! "Industrial Salvation" makes amusing reading.

I Independent Labour Party. I WELSH ELECTION FUND. I £ s. d. Already acknowledged 65 9 11 Friends of Freedom, Briton Ferry 1 5 0 Ferndale N.T".R 0 5 0 J. Samuels, Pontycymmer 0 2 6 Nantwen Lodge, Dowlais 0 18 0 Pont.ypridd£.TJ.P. 1 1 3 Blaina LL.P. 0 2 6 Neath I.L.P 0 12 0 Dowlais I.LP. (2nd donation). I 1 () Dowlais N.U.R. 0 10 0 Pontypool I.L.P 0 15 0 District, S.W.M.F 5 0 0 Per Aid. (I. T. Griffiths, Dowlais 0 12 6 Magor N.U.R 0 10 0 Pontnewydd I.L.P 3 7 6 Ebbw Vale I.L.P. (2nd donation) 1 6 6 Merthyr N.U.R 0 10 0 Minnie Pallistcr 1 0 0 Bargoetl I.L.P 0 12 9 Aberbargoed f.L.P. 1 4 0 Taffs Well T.L.P. 0 13 0 Two Stokers, Groesfaen Colliery 0 5 0 R87 3 5

An Influential Appeal. SICNATORIES TO C.O. RELEASE LETTER. ALL THE BIG NAMES OF LITERATURE AND PUBLIC LIFE. 29 Wilton Crescent, S.W., 1st January, 1919. Dear Mr. Lloyd George, We earnestly ask your favourable considera- tion of the enclosed memorandum. The names of the signatories are probably for the most part known to you. Our object has been to limit the- number of signatures and to include only those of representative persons. We are aware that objection has been taken to the release of the Conscientious Objectors on the ground that they might nlerehy ohtain some preference in comparison with socTTIers who have not been demobilised. We cannot, however, think that the position of a prisoner, condemned to prison treatment, which in many cases has exceeded the maximum term allowed either by our Military or Civil Law, viz., two years—is comparable to that of a soldier after the armistice, or that the number involved can seriously affect the opportunities of a demobil- ised soldier to find occupation. In any case, we would suggest that considera- tions of this character cannot alter the nature of the offence1 charged or justify a prolongation of the length of the term of imprisonment. For convenience we have arranged the names in the following order:— (1) Literary and University men. (2) Labour. (a) Clergy of all denominations. i 4) Reoresentative women. (5) Representative men. Yours faithfully, K W. BARNES. JOHN MUCH AN. GILBERT JlrRRA Y. PARMOOR.

To the ,Rt. Hon. David Lloyd George, 10 Downing; Street, S. W.I. Sir,—We, who hokl different views on the ac- tions of Conscientious Objectors, are united in the opinion that the time has come when they should be forthwith released. There are now fiiteen hundred ol these men in prison, seven hundred of whom have served terms of two years or more, whereas two years is the maxi- mum punishment a llowed for ordinary criminals, under either our civil or military code. As a result of recent enquiries it was found that a large majority of these men are sincerely con- vinced that they have acted under the demands of their conscience and in accordance with deep moral or religious conviction. We urge that men in prison under these con- ditions should not be kept tlipre during the period of national rejoicing, and that our coun- try should not s how itself slow at such a time to carry through an act of just mercy. It is hardly necessary to remind you of the state- ments made by responsible ministers when the Military Service Act was under discussion in Parliament. Jr. Walter Long on May 11th, 1916, said "Nobody in the Government w ants the horror of men who, for conscience sake, are unwilling to serve, being thrown into gaol for a longtime." Surely now that the fighting has ceased, all possible occasion for harsh treatment has dis- appeared, and we therefore urge the immediate release of all such prisoners. I.-LITERARY AND UNIVERSITY MEN. William Archer. William Bateson, M.A., F.R.S. Harold Begbie. Hilaire Belloc. Arnold Bennett. A. Glutton Brock, Literary Editor of the Times." Colonel John Buchan. Edward Carpenter. The Rev. Estlin Carpenter, late Principal Man- chester College, Oxford. The Rev. E. C. Dewick, Principal of St. Aiden's College, Birkenhead. James Douglas, Literary Editor of the Star." John Galsworthy. A. G. Gardiner, Editor of the Daily News." J. C. M. Garrett, M.A., Principal Municipal School of Technology, Manchester. Rev. A. E. Garvie, Principal Xew College, Hampstead. G. P. Gooch, Editor of the Contemporary Re- view." C. B. Heberden, Principal Brasenose College, Oxford. L. T. Hobhouse, Martin White Professor in the University of I/ondon. Lawrence Housman. L. P. Jacks, M.A., L.L.D., Editor, Hibbert Journal." Jerome K. Jerome. Thomas Kee, Principal Bala Bangor Indepen- dent University. J. Maynard Keynes, C.B., Fellow King's Col- lege, Cambridge. Sir J. D. MeClure, L.L.D., Chairman Elect for Congregational Union, 1919. .John Masefield. H. W. Massingham, Editor of>the "Nation." Professor Gilbert Murray, M.A., LL.D., D. Litt. The Rev. J. O. F. Murray, Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge. Professor A. S. Peake, M.A., D.D. The Rev. L. R. Phelps, M.A., Provost of Oriel College, Oxford. G. Bernard Shaw. J. T. Sheppard, Fellow King's Coll., Cambridge. Clement Shorter, Editor of the Sphere." Nowell Smith, Headmaster Sherborne School. Harold Spender. J. A. Spender, Editor of the "Westminster Gazette." FAlitoi- of the New J. C. Squire, Editor of the New Statesman C. H. Tawney, M.A., C.I.E. R. H. Tawney, Litt.D. Sir Adolphus Ward, Master of Peterhouse. Cambridge. Svdnev Webb, L.L.B. H. G. Wells. Israel Zangwill. if.-LABOUR. J. Bromley, Sec. Ass. Soc. of Locomotive En- gineers and Firemen. G. H. Stuart Bunning, Sec. Postman's Federa- tion. D. Carmichael, Secretary London Trades Council G. D. H. Cole. Jos. Compton, Assist. Gen. Sec.- United King- dom Society of Coachmakers. Allen Gee, Sec., Gen. Union Textile Workers. R. M. Gentry, London and District Amal. Union of Bakers and Confectioners. Alex. Gossip, Gen. Secretary, Furnishing Trades Association. D. Graham, Gen. Sec., Lanarkshire Miners' County Union. Josc-ph Hallsworth, Sec. Amal. Union of Co-op. Employees, The Rt. Hon. Arthur Henderson, P.C. G. A. Isaacs, Gen. Sec., National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants. G. Lansbury. Robert Smillie, President, Miners' Federation of Great Britain. B. Smith, London and Provincial Union of Vehicle Workers. W. St raker. Miners' Federation, Northumber- land. The Rt. Hon. J. H. Thomas, M.P., Gen. Sec., National Union of Railwaymen. lien Turner, Gen. Sec., United Textile Workers' Federation. John Turner, Gen. Sec., National Amal. Union of Shop Assistants, Wareliou semen and Clerks. W. •). Webb, I/ondon District Secretary. Elec- trical Trades Union. Robert Willmms, Secretary, Transport Workers' Federation. Ill.-CLERGY OF ALL DENOMINATIONS. Ilisilops of, Barrow-in-Furness, Bath and Wells. Bristol, Chelmsford, Ely, Gloucester. Guildford, Kingston, Llandaff, Lichfield, Lincoln. Liverpool, Oxford, Peterborough, Ripon, Southampton. Wakefield. Rev. C. C. B. Bardslev, Secretary ot C.M.S. Rev. E. AY. Barnes, Master of the Temple. Canon .L W. Horsley. Rev. H. Gresford .Jones, Archdeacon of Sheffield. Rev. H. R. L. Sheppard, Vicar of St. Martin- in-the-Fields. R.n. William Temple. Rev. Tissington Tatlow, Seccretary, Christian Student Movement. Rev. H. W. Webb-Peploe, Prebendarv of St. Pauls. Rev. Dr. John Clifford, D.D., M.A., L.L.B., D.Sc. R.I'V. Dr. Robert F. Horton, M.A., D.D. Rev. Dr. J. D. Jones, D.D. Rev. Dr. F. B. Meyer, D.D. Rev. Dr. Scott Lidgett, M.A. Rev. Thomas Phillips. M.A., Bloomsbury. General Bramwell Booth. IV.-REPRESENTATIVE WOMEN. Dr. Louisa Anderson, C.B.E., M.D., B.S., Chief Surgeon, Military Hospital, Endell,street, W.C.2. Tlw Ladv Betty Balfour. Lady Courtney of Pen with. Mrs. Creighton. Miss Margaret Llewelyn DiN-les, Hon. Sec., Women's Co-operative Guild. Ali-s. Henry Hobhouse. Ladv Ubert. )1is Afary Macarthur, Wromen's Trades Union League. Mrs. Janet McEwan, Lib. Coalition Candidate, Enfield. Miss Margaret McMillan. Dr. Marion Phillips, D.Ss., Secretary, Women's Labour League. The Countess of Selbome. Miss Picton Turbervill, O.M. Miss A. Maude Rovden. Miss Bertha M. Skeat, Ph.D., Principal Bailiol -Aliss ]let-tlia -Nl. qkeit Pli.D., Pi-iiiell);i l Balliol Mrs. Philip Snowdon. Lady Henry Somerset. Dr. Jane Walker. The Countess of Warwick. Mrs. Sydney Webb. V. REPRESENTATIVE MEN. Sir Charles D. ykrcland, Bt. M.A., J.P., D.L., Somerset. The IU. Hon. F. D. Acland, MP., P.C. The Rt. Hon. Ameer Ali, P.C., LL.D., C.I.E. Sir Thomas Bartow, M.D., F.R.S. The lit. Hon. Earl Beauchamp, P.C., K.C.M.G. Sir Hugh Bell, J.P., Lord-Lieut., North Riding, York. The li t. Hon. Augustine Rirrell, K.C. The Rt. Hon. Sir .John Brunner, Bt., P.C. 'Hie Rt. Hon. Viscount Bryee, G.C. Y .O., O.M. The Rt. Hon. Lord Buekmaster.- The P t. Hon..John Burns, P.C. The Rt. Hon. Lord Hugh Cecil, M.P. Sir A. W. Chapman, J.P. and D.L., Chairman Surrey County Council. The Rt. Hon. the Marquess of Crewe, P.C.. K.G. The Rt. Hon. Lord Farrer. Sir John Fry. D.L., J.P., F.S.A. The Rt. Hon. Lewis Fry, P C., J.P., D.L., LL.D, Silo Rickman J. Godlee, M.S., F.R.C.S., Hon. Surgeon in Ordinary to the King. W. L. Hichens, Chairman of Cammell Laird and Co. The Rt. Hon. Henry Hobhouse, P.C., J.P., Chairman Somerset County Council. Eliot Howard J.P., D.L., Chairman Essex Ap- peal Tribunal. Sir Courtenay P. Tlbert, G.C.R. K.C.B., K.C.S.I., C.E.T. The Rt. Hon. Fred Hutli Jackson, P.C., Direc- tor of the Bank of England, President Insti- tute of Bankers. Sir John Kirk, J.P. The Rt. Hon. Earl Loreburn, P.C., G.C.M.G. Judge Mackarness. The Rt. Hon. R. McKenna, P.C. The Ri. Hon. Sir William Mather, P.C., J.P., M.I.C.E. Lord Monteagle of 'Brandon, K. P. The Rt. Hon. Viscount Morlev of Blackburn P. cl, O.M. The Rt. Hon. Lord Parmoor, P.C., K. (I. V. 0 The Lord Peckover of Wisbech. B. Seebohm Rowntree. The Hon. William Schreiner. K.C.. C.M.G. The Lord Sheffield. The Rt. Hon. Sir John Simon. P.C. K.C.V.D., K.C. Sir D. M. Stevenson, L.L.D., B.L. Sir Charles Tarring, J.P. Christopher Turner. Lord Wearda le. The Rt. Hon. J. W. Wilson, PC., J.P. C. Hagberg Wright, Secretary of the London Library.

John Maclean. December 26th, 1918. Job it Maclean has sent the following letter to Sir James M. Dodds, Under-Secretarv for Scot- land. 26385,,73 Sir,—Would you be so kind as to inform the Secretary for Scotland that I do not accept your assertion that the King" has granted me a free pardon." Not "the King," but the fighting workers of Britain have regained me my freedom, and a healthy fear of these workers has induced you and your friends to try this bluff of a free pardon. All the time, how- ever, you are trying to pester my wife and my- self through your detestable spies, popularly called detectives. My immediate reply to that is a demand from the Government through the Scottish Office for I'? the (-ost of one hundred and fifty pounds ( £ 150), the cost of recovery after my release last time and this from your cold-blooded treatment in t hose in- fernos, Peterhead and Perth. [ made a claim last time for seventy-six pounds ( £ 76) and was refused. The new de- mand includes that sum, and this new demand I intend to insist upon until it is met by the next Government or until the workers assume full control of the British Empire.